Congress says no dissent on pacts with Pakistan and US

Reports of unease within notwithstanding, Congress today dismissed suggestions of "dissent" on the controversial Indo-Pak joint statement and the pact with the US on end user monitoring but still appeared shy of backing the Govt. "There is no dissent in the party on the issue. Once the Prime Minister has spoken clearly on it, there is no need to add anything," party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said.

Reports of unease within notwithstanding, Congress today dismissed suggestions of "dissent" on the controversial Indo-Pak joint statement and the pact with the US on end user monitoring but still appeared shy of backing the government.

"There is no dissent in the party on the issue. Once the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) has spoken clearly on it, there is no need to add anything," party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters in New Delhi.

She was replying to a volley of questions on whether there was opposition in the Congress against the Joint statement.Asked about the murmurs of dissent within the party on the joint statement and the end user agreement issue, Natarajan said, "there are no murmurs within the party. The Minister of External Affairs has also clarified on the issue (end user pact). We have nothing further to add".

While Sonia Gandhi held parleys with some senior leaders, party sources maintained that they were routine interaction of the party chief seeking to dismiss suggestions that the two issues figured in the discussions.

Asked why was the party not not welcoming the joint statement and the end user pact, Natarajan repeated that there was no dissent in the party.

To a query whether the party was reluctant to support the Prime Minister on the two issues, she said, "how can the party be reluctant...? We are simply saying that we have nothing to add".